Self-charging device for mobile robots

• US 10,404,084 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2016
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhejiang Guozi Robot Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zhejiang Guozi Robot Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wu, Weifeng, Wu, Wangdong, Rao, Chengkang, Shen, Zhenhua, Tao, Yikun, Zhu, Lingfen, Zheng, Hongbo, Wang, Xia, Du, Xinfeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Pacheco, Alexis B
• Application Number:
  US15/305,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20180375355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,060 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320108, 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0009 Constructional details, e.g. manipulator supports, bases
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1664 characterised by motion, path, trajectory planning
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/53 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50393 Floor conveyor, AGV automatic guided vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A self-charging device for mobile robots, which includes a charging cradle and a charging pin, the charging cradle includes a charging contact and a first elastic member connected with the charging contact. The charging pin is used to contact the charging contact for charging. Preferably, the charging cradle also includes a buffering block, a second elastic member and a mounting enclosure. The charging contact is connected with the buffering block through the first elastic member. The buffering block is provided encircling inside the mounting enclosure. One end of the second elastic member is connected with the buffering block, and the other end is connected with the mounting enclosure. The self-charging device for mobile robots is capable of counteracting the deviation angle due to the misalignment when the mobile robot is charging, and buffering the impact force produced when the charging contact docks with the charging pin.

Claims

1. A self-charging device for mobile robots comprising a charging cradle and a charging pin, the charging cradle comprises a charging contact and a first elastic member connected with the charging contact;

the charging pin is used to contact the charging contact for charging;

wherein

the charging cradle also comprises a buffering block, a second elastic member and a mounting enclosure;

the charging contact is connected with the buffering block through the first elastic member;

the first elastic member is disposed between the charging contact and the buffering block;

the buffering block is provided encircling inside the mounting enclosure;

one end of the second elastic member is connected with the buffering block, and the other end is connected with the mounting enclosure;

the second elastic member is disposed between the buffering block and the mounting enclosure, the first elastic member and the second elastic member are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the buffering block.

2. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 1, wherein the charging cradle also comprises a contact stopper;

the contact stopper is provided encircling outside the charging contact, the charging contact exposes from the contact stopper;

the contact stopper is made of an insulating material.

3. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 1, wherein the number of the first elastic members is equal to the number of the charging contacts.

4. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 1, wherein the length of the outer surface of the charging pin is greater than that of the outer surface of the charging contact.

5. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 1, wherein the length of the outer surface of the charging pin is less than that of the outer surface of the charging contact.

6. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 1, wherein the charging pin and the charging contact each contain an anode and a cathode of power source.

7. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 1, wherein the number of the charging pins is equal to the number of the charging contacts.

8. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 7, wherein the number is two or three.

9. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 1, wherein the charging pin is arranged on the mobile robot.

10. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 1, wherein the charging pin is arranged on the mobile robot.

11. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 2, wherein the charging pin is arranged on the mobile robot.

12. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 3, wherein the charging pin is arranged on the mobile robot.

13. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 4, wherein the charging pin is arranged on the mobile robot.

14. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 5, wherein the charging pin is arranged on the mobile robot.

15. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 6, wherein the charging pin is arranged on the mobile robot.

16. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 7, wherein the charging pin is arranged on the mobile robot.

17. The self-charging device for mobile robots according to claim 8, wherein the charging pin is arranged on the mobile robot.